Congratulations—you’re ready to join the millions of Americans who have discovered how using hearing aids can make life much more enjoyable and rewarding. Shortly, you’ll be hearing sounds you’ve long forgotten about, participating in stimulating conversations, and listening to music with improved discernment for each instrument.
But before you get to all that, you’ll have to undergo a short period of adjustment to get comfortable with your new hearing aids. Here are five suggestions to to assist you to push through this period and to help you get the maximum benefit out of your new technology.
1. Visit a Hearing Care Professional
If you desire to have the best hearing attainable, there’s no avoiding the first step, which is consulting a hearing care expert. They can help you find the ideal hearing aid that corresponds with your hearing loss, lifestyle, and budget. And, most importantly, they can custom-fit and program your new hearing aid so that it’s optimized for your unique hearing loss.
Your hearing loss, like a fingerprint, is one-of-a-kind. That means every hearing aid should always be programmed differently—and this requires the practical knowledge of a hearing care professional.
2. Be Patient with Your Hearing Aids
Your new hearing aids will take some getting used to. You’ll notice sounds you haven’t heard in a while, your voice may sound different, and sound might overall just seem “off.” This is completely ordinary: you just need time to adjust.
Start by making a commitment to wear your hearing aids for as much of the day as possible, for a minimum of a few weeks. Put them in when you wake up and take them out before bed. While it may be awkward initially, you’ll adjust to better hearing in no time—and it will be well worth the effort and hard work.
If you find that you’re having trouble adjusting, arrange a visit with your hearing care professional. Hearing aids can be fine-tuned, so you never have to throw in the towel on better hearing.
3. Start Small at Home
We recommend adjusting to your hearing aids at first in the comfort of your home. Try watching a movie or television show and paying particular attention to the dialogue; engage in one-on-one conversations in a quiet room; and listen to music while trying to identify different instruments and pitches.
Next, when you’re more accustomed, you can test your hearing aids out in more complex surroundings like at parties, restaurants, and movie theaters. Modern hearing aids come with sophisticated features and environmental settings that can effortlessly handle these increased listening demands—which segues nicely to the fourth tip.
4. Master the Advanced Features
After you’ve adapted to your hearing aids, you should continue to learn a few of the more advanced features. With the help of your hearing specialist, you can learn how to capitalize on the functionality and convenience of your modern hearing aids.
Depending on your specific model, you’ll be able to do things like wirelessly stream music and phone calls directly to your hearing aids, control the volume from your mobile device or digital watch, and effortlessly switch settings to maximize your hearing in different environments. Make sure to speak to your hearing specialist about all the features that may be helpful to you.
5. Maintain Your Hearing Aids
Finally, you’ll want to ensure that you care for your hearing aids. This implies daily cleaning, appropriate storage, and managing your battery supply. Your hearing professional will show you how to integrate hearing aid maintenance and care into your daily routine so that it becomes automatic and effortless.
You’ll also want to get your hearing aids professionally cleaned and assessed once or twice per year to ensure proper functioning for years to come.
We’d like to hear from you: if you currently have hearing aids, tell us about your experience! Let us know how you adjusted to your hearing aids and any advice you’d give to those just getting started.